“Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry’s ashes were sent into space, so his influence on sci-fi cannot be overstated. “Star Trek” is one of the most enduring franchises, but Roddenberry’s imagination also gave viewers other great genre shows worth every fan’s time. In fact, the “Star Trek” mastermind also created one of the best sci-fi shows of the 2000s, “Andromeda,” which is currently available to stream for free on Tubi.
Created by “Star Trek” alum Robert Hewitt Wolfe, “Andromeda” follows Captain Dylan Hunt (Kevin Sorbo) and his crew as they travel around space looking to restore peace in the galaxy. The crew used to represent a government known as the Systems Commonwealth, which brought peace and prosperity to the universe. However, Dylan and the team were frozen for years, so they’re shocked to find the galaxy in disarray after waking up — but that doesn’t stop them from fighting the good fight.
Roddenberry had long passed away by the time “Andromeda” premiered in the year 2000. However, the story is based on notes he jotted down before his death. In lesser hands, piecing together a genius’ unrealized ideas could have been disastrous, but Wolfe and his team crafted a wonderful sci-fi adventure series.
Critics praised Andromeda
A space opera from the mind of Gene Roddenberry is likely to draw comparisons to “Star Trek,” but “Andromeda” marches to the beat of its own drum. The series is more dystopian than “Star Trek,” but it also isn’t as dark as a story about the fall of an empire could have been, according to some critics.
“It’s a delightfully motley cast of characters, and the scripts by Wolfe and his writing team are brimming with witty interplay,” Julian White wrote for <a href="https://www.starburstmagazine.com/reviews/blu-ray-review-andromeda-season-1/” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank”>Starburst. “It’s bright, brash and doesn’t take itself too seriously, while still just about steering on the right side of camp, and on the whole it’s very endearing.
Jeff Spry of Space echoed a similar sentiment, noting that “Andromeda” still stands out from other sci-fi shows. “Compared with today’s oversaturation of dystopian drudgery, ‘Andromeda’ offered something a bit brighter.”
If you want something with more doom and gloom, check out these great dystopian sci-fi movies of the ’70s. But if you like genre shows with colorful characters and optimistic ideals, you can’t go wrong with “Andromeda.” Tubi is showing all five seasons for free, so check it out while it’s still available.
